Electrical coin-indicating device.



No. 734,461. l PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

n R. '1a. HAZLETT.

`ELECTRICAL CCINI-NDICAIING DEVICE.

. AYPLIUATION FILED JAN. 25.1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.y

FIG. 2

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No. 734,461'. PATENTED JULY'zl, 1903.

- E. B. EAZLETT.

ELECTRICAL COIN INDICATINC DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

INVENTOR: E@ B. H

WITNESS'ES:.

UNITED STATES Patented' July` 21, loos.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROMEO B. HAZLETT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLESV E.VILSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL COIN-INDICATING DEVICE. l

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,461, dated July21, 1903. Application tiled January 25,1902. Serial No. 51,173. (Nomodel.) 4

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LROMEO B. HAZLETT, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia.` and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrical Coin- Indicating Devices, (Case B,) whereof the following isa specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. MyinventionQ relates to an'electrical coinindicating device by means'ofwhich the deposit of any particular coin within it is electricallyindicated at a distance therefrom.

My invention is applicable to the collection of tolls at a paytelephone-station; but it will be understood that its application is notthus limited, as Vit maybe used to indicate at a distance the deposit ofa particular1 coin for whatever purpose the collection or its indicationis desired. i A In general my device consists of a series ofcoin-pockets adapted to receive current coins of the differentdenominations and which when any one has been filled with the coin whichit is adapted to receive may be so ro-` tated or otherwise moved as toeffect the mak-` ing or breaking of an electric circuit, the number ofsuch disturbances of the electrical circuit being so arranged as to,Vindicate at any point of the circuit which of the coinpockets has moved,and consequent-ly what coin has been deposited.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of my coincollecting and indicating device. Fig. 2:is a longitudinal verticalsection through one of the coin-pockets. Fig. 3 is a cross-section takenalong the I line 3 3, Figd.V Fig. 4 is a cross-section collected.

taken along the line 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a partial horizontal sectiontaken along the line 5 5, Fig. 4. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are side elevationsof the three coin-pockets, showing the disposition of the spokesthereon.

The apparatus shown in Fig. l is understood to be inclosed inabox orother suitable receptacle for holding the money to be The box should befitted with slots capable of receiving,respectively, nickels, dimes, andquarters or other current coins. Slotted coin-tubes leading from theseslots are show'n in the drawings, lettered, re-

spectively, A A A2. Immediately contiguous to the ends of these tubesare three corresponding rotatiugcoin-pockets B Bf B2. (Shown in theirupright position in Fig. 1.)

Each pocket is in the shape of an elongated rectangle with an interioraperture closely corresponding to the coin which it is to receive. Thelower part of the rear side of each coin-pocket is enlarged at b', (seeFig.

l (5,) forming acounterweight. All three of the pockets vare mountedalongside `of each other upon the shaft F, which passes axially through'the sleeve b of each, within which the shaft is free to rotate withoutmotion of thecoin-pockr ets, which normally remain in an uprightposition upon the shaft, resting at their back in y stable equilibriumagainsta fixed cross-piece e, against which the weighted sides b' of thepocket being moved forward so as to rotate upon the shaft. Slots d arecut through the vshaft F, corresponding in position to the threecoin-pockets and registering With the coin-apertures thereof when theshaft is in the position of the drawings. Each of these slots takes theshape seen in Fig. 2,- whereby the coin dropped into the coin-pocket,although entering the slot of the shaft,'is restrained from passingcompletely through it by a sloping wall at one of the short ends of theslot.

From a'consideration of the parts which have thus far been described itwill be obvious that upon manually rotating the shaft F by drawing thehandle toward the operator no motion will bel given to any ofthecoinpockets, provided no coin has beendeposited therein, by reason ofthestable equilibrium of the coin-pockets against the cross-piece e, theshaft F being free to rotate withoutgdisturbing them. If, however, aproper coin'he deposited in one of the pockets, the coin will Made fastto the shaft are three disks IOO fall until it has partially passedthrough the slot d of the shaft, and resting therein will form a sort ofspline, which will compel that coin-pocket to rotate with the shaft,while all the empty pockets will remain in their upright position.

Near the right-hand end of the shaft F the inner extremity of acoil-band spring G is made fast to it, the outer end of the spring beingmade fast to a fixed post g. The rotation of the shaft- F in thedirection which has been indicated is against the torsional effect ofthis spring, so that if it has been thus rotated until any coin-pocketcontaining a coin has been inverted so as to discharge its coinimmediately the handle is released by the operator the shaft F, and withit the inverted coin-pocket, by reason of the engagement of pin cagainst its side, will return to the position shown in the drawings.Upon reaching the upright position the coin-pocket again comes to a restagainst the cross-piece e and the shaft F can rotate no farther, owingto the stop-pins mentioned.

Each of the sleeves b has inserted in its periphery one or moreprojecting spokes, the number of which may preferably be arranged so asto correspond to the multiples occurring in the value of the coins whichthe respective pockets are adapted to receive. Thus, supposing thatcoin-pocket Bis adapted to receive a nickle,its sleeve will have onespokeinserted in it, as seen in Fig.`(3. If the pocket B is adapted toreceive a dime, its sleeve should have two spokes, as seen in Fig. 7. Ifthe pocket B2 is adapted to receive a quarter, its sleeve should havefive spokes, as seen in Fig. 8. These spokes, if more than one on anyone sleeve, are arranged in line around that sleeve. It is, furthermore,preferable to have the spokes set so that when all the coin-pockets areresting in the same radial plane none of the spokes are in line witheach other when the group is viewed axially, as seen in Fig. 3, butinstead form a continuous and regular circumferential series.Immediately below the spoke-carrying portion of each of the sleeves b ismounted a swinging tappet J, pivoted centrally, so as to swing backwardand forward. The lower end of this tappet is enlarged to form a T, asseen in Fig. 3. To the forward end of the T is secured the upper end ofa coiled springj, the lower end being secured to a stationary part ofthe device in the plane of the point at which the tappet is pivoted. Bythis arrangement the tappet is normally held with its upper end slightlyinclined in a forward direction, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper end ofthe tappet is located in the path of the spokes, and as the pocket isrotated in either direction each spoke striking the end of the tappetwill turn it out of its normal position suiiiciently to allow the spoketo pass it, the tappet beinginstantly returned to normal position by thespring j. In proximity to each of the tappets is a spring-contact h andau opposing contact 7i', the two contacts forming a switch in anelectrical circuit n n. The spring-contact h is preferably arrangeddirectly behind the rearwardly-extending portion of the T of thetappetand suiciently close to be actuated by the rearward movement of thelower end. of the tappet to cause the circuit n 'n to be closed. Thismovement of the tappet is caused byaspoke striking the upperend ofthetappet and pushing it forward as the pocket carrying the spoke isreturning to normal position after being inverted to discharge the coinplaced in it. During the rotation of the pocket in a direction to invertit the spoke or spokes carried by it striking the upper end of thetappet will cause the lower end of the tappet to move forward againstthe force of the springj, this movement not affecting the normalposition of the spring-contact h, and consequently not closing thecircuit n it. All of these switches are inserted in parallel in the sameelectrical circuit un, which includes a battery and any device forindicating or registering electrical impulses, whether bell, ticker, orregister, situated at the point where the indications are to bereceived.

The operation of the parts thus far described is as follows: Until acoin has been deposited in one of the pockets rotation of the shaft willhave no effect upon them and none of the electrical switches can beclosed so as to make a circuit. XVhenever a coin has been inserted inany one of the pockets, that pocket will be inverted by rotation of theshaft and when the shaft is released returned to its former position, ashas been eX- plained. By the motion of inversion the coin is droppedinto the box, but no closing of the electrical circuit will occur.During the return of the pocket to its upright position the spoke orspokes attached to it will close the electrical circuit a correspondingnumber of times, indicating how many multiples of five cents arerepresented by the coin deposited. Furthermore, if two coins bedeposited at once-say, for instance,a dime and a quarterthe sameresultwill be obtained, for there will then be seven closings of thecircuit, indicating the deposit of thirtyfive cents.

In order to prevent possible tampering with the device by improperlymoving the handle backward and forward short distances, causing arepetition of the contacts without the deposit of a coin, I haveprovided the devices illustrated especially in Figs. 4 and 5, which onlyallow rotation in one direction until a complete semirevolution has beeneected, whereupon rotation is only allowed in the other direction untiltheshaft is returned to the initial position. To this end anescapement-wheel M is made fast to the shaft, which wheel is madesubject to regulation in three respects, as follows:

An ordinary escapement-anchorl is pivoted in such relation to theescapement-wheel as to control its motion. The' lower edge of IOO IIO

seater the escapement-anchor carries an arm Z.' with a weight Z2 on theend thereof. The escapement thus provided prevents rapid rotation of theshaft in either direction, and, furthermore, the vibration of the weightZ2, which is thereby occasioned, is useful as occasioning a jarring ofthe apparatus during the rotation of the shaft, which prevents theaccidental sticking of the coin within the pocket.

1n front of -the escapementwheel M is mounted a spring-detent m, havinga detaining-point m and also alongside thereof an upward extension rm2.This detent yprevents rotation of the shaft Fin the direction occasionedby drawing the handle forward unless the detent is pressed back out ofreach of the teeth of the escapement-wheel by means of swinging arm Pcoming into contact with its upward extension fm2.

At .the back of the escapernent-wheel M is mounted a spring-detent n,having a detaining-point n', and also alongside thereof an u pwardextension n2. This detent prevents rotation of the shaft F in thedirection occasioned by the opposite motion of the handle unless thedetent is pressed back out of reach of the teeth of the escapement-wheelby means of swinging arm Q coming into contact with its upward extensionn2.

P and Q are arms swinging freely upon the shaft, one on each side of theescapementwheel. On .the side facing arm P two pins p p' are inserted inthe side of the escape-V lthe drawings it will be seen that the frontdetent fm is pressed away from the escapement-wheel, so that the latterin rotating will clear it by the swinging arm P, which is in ahorizontal position, so as to engage the extension m2. The swinging armQ is hanging freely below the shaft,so that the detent 'n' is inengagement with the teeth of the escapement-wheel. Underthesecircumstances the shaft can only rotate in the direction occasioned bydrawing the handle toward the operator, any reversal of the motion beingprevented by detent n. This condition continues until a half-revolutionis completed, whereupon swinging arm Q, which has been picked up by thepin q during the rotation of the wheel M, is brought into contact withthe extension n* of the detent n, freeing it from engagement with theescapement-wheel. At the same moment, however,'detent n is placed inengagement with it'by reason of the depression of arm P by contactwithpin p'. Immediately, therefore, further rotation of the shaft in thesame direction is prevented by detent m. Rotation of the shaftescapement-wheel and simultaneously pin q pushesarm Q out of engagementwithden tent n, restoring the parts to the position-of Fig.' 4.

Having thus .described my invention, I claiml. In a coin-indicatingdevice, the combination of a coin-pocket; a horizontal shaft supportingthe coin-pocket and normally rotating freely therein; meansfor rotatingthe shaft; a stop preventing movement of the pocket in one direction; aconnterweight carried by the pocket arranged to hold the pocket normallyagainst the stop, thus preventing movement of the pocket in the otherdirection and maintaining the pocketjin a position of stable equilibriumupon the shaft; and a slot through the shaft registering with thecoin-aperture of the coin-pocket; substantially as described.

2. In a coin-indicating device, the combi'- nation of a coin-pocket; ahorizontal shaft rotating freely therein; a stop preventing movement ofthe pocket in one direction; a counterweight carried by the pocketarranged to hold the pocket normally against thestop in a position ofupright stable equilibrium upon the shaft; a slot through the shaftregistering with the coin-aperture of the coin-pocket; a disk fast uponthe shaft immediately alongside of the coin pocket; and a pin set in theside of the disk next to to the coin-pocket, whereby a pocket which IOOhas been inverted by insertion of a coin may be restored to its uprightposition after the coin has been discharged, substantially as described.l

3. In a coin -indicating device, the combination of a coin-pocket; ashaft rotating freely therewith; a stop preventing movement of thepockety in one direction; a counterweight carried by the pocket arrangedto hold the pocket normally against the stop in a position of uprightstable equilibrium upon the shaft; means whereby upon thevinsertion of acoin therein saidV pocket is caused to rotate with the shaft; a spokeprojecting from said coin-pocket; a tappet` pivoted to swing in eitherdirection with one end in the path of the'end of the spoke as it rotatesIIO with the coin-pocket; a spring for returning y the tappet to normalposition; an electrical switch in position to be operated by the otherend of the tappet, whereby the switch is whereby upon the insertion ofthe proper coin.. t I each pocket is so connected with the,shaft .Y

that it will be rotated therewith; projections from said coin-pocketsvaryin g in number according to the denomination of the coin for whichthe pocket is adapted, the projections of any one pocket being arrangedin line around the shaft upon which the pocket is mounted; electricspring-switches in parallel, one for each line of projections; andconnections whereby upon rotation of any one of the coin-pockets itscorresponding electrical switch is closed as many times as it carriesprojections; substantially as described.

5. In a coin-indicating device, the combination of a rotatable shaft; aseries of coinpockets adapted to receive dierent coins, so mounted onthe shaft that 'the shaft is free to rotate without rotating the pocket;means for normally maintaining each of the coinpockets in position ofstable equilibrium irrespective ofthe rotation of the shaft; meanswhereby upon the insertion of the proper coin each pocket is soconnected with the shaft that it will be rotated therewith; projectionsfrom said coin-pockets varying in number according to the denominationof the coin for which the pocket is adapted, the projections of any onepocket being arranged in line around the shaft upon which the pocket ismounted, but none of said projections on the different pockets being inline with each other when the group is viewed actually; electricalspring-switches in parallel, one for each line of projections; andconnections whereby upon rotation of any one of the coin-pockets thecorrespondingr electrical switch is closed as many times as it carriesprojections; substantially as described.

6. In a coin-indicating device, the combination of a rotatable shaft; acoin-pocket; means whereby upon the insertion of the proper coin Withinsaid pocket it is moved by the rotation of the shaft; an electricalswitch which is closed by the motion of the coinpocket; a toothed Wheelfast to said shaft; two oppositely-directed spring-pressed detentsengaging the teeth of said wheel; the detents having portions thereofextending ou opposite sides respectively ot' the toothed wheel; swingingarms mounted ou the shaft, one on either side of the toothed wheel,which when directed toward the detent hold it out ot' engagement withthe wheel; and stops on the sides of the wheel, whereby at the end ofeach half-revolution of the wheel one detent is placed in engagementwith its teeth and the other thrown out of engagement, or vice versa,substantially as described.

ROMEO B. IIAZLETT.

Witnesses:

JAMES I-I. BELL, E. Runen.

